Cynthia's Story

My passion is Medicine.

Three pounds. 6 months in the womb. A heart murmur. That was the condition I was born in. Of course, I was not aware of this until later, 10 years after I was born. I remember running in physical education when I was in third grade. I would run out of breath with in the first couple minutes of exercise. It was strange, I couldn’t catch up to the others without feeling like passing out. It wasn’t until the summer of 2010, that I really became aware of my heart condition. I was scheduled for open-heart surgery in July of 2010. I asked my parents what was going on. I kept missing school to go to these random “Check Ups” to make sure I was “In well condition for the upcoming surgery.” This was all so overwhelming. Yes, I was born premature, with a heart murmur. I spent almost the first four months of my life existence in the hospital nursery. My heart had a quarter size hole in both valves.

Thanks to surgeons, I live a “normal” life. I can do what I set my mind to. And this is why I am motivated to pursue a career in the medical field. Just like doctor Hensley, my surgeon, I want to help others have a possibility at life. I want to make sure children like me have the help they need at the tip of their fingers just like I did. It mean a lot to me, that someone has the intelligence to know exactly what to do to the human body, in order for it to function properly. I want to do this. I am positive, this is what I want to do.

While I am very passionate about the medical field, there are still places I can explore. I want to make sure I am capable of doing more than just the basics of the medical field. Attending National Leadership Forum on Medicine will help me explore in detail what it would feel like to have a medical job. From what I understand, and have heard from people who are doctors, it is intensive work. Having two weeks to explore what type of work is done, will help me determine whether I am a perfect fit for a job like this.